Adjustable baby crib



Jan. 24, 19641 5.13..,1Aczol3s ETAL ADJUSTABLEl BABY CRIB Filed Jan. 50, 1958 ADJUSTABLE BABY CRIB Saul E. Jacobs, Los Angeles, and Max L. Siegel, Beverly Hills, Calif., assignors to Baby-Line Furniture Coinpany, Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed Jan. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 712,243

2 Claims. (Cl. 5-63) This invention relates to baby cribs and has particular reference to baby cribs of the type in which an auxiliary bedding-supporting frame of the crib is vertically movable relative to a main crib frame between a normal relatively low level and at least one higher level. At the normal low level of the auxiliary frame, the sides and ends of the main crib frame extend a suiiicient distance above the bedding to confine an active baby. The auxiliary frame is elevated to a higher level whenever it is desirable to position the baby at a higher level or whenever it is desirable to make the bedding on the auxiliary frame more conveniently accessible to a standing person.

In one baby crib of this general type, it is intended that the auxiliary frame be moved from one level to another by the application of manual force directly to the auxiliary frame. This lifting operation requires considerable physical effort and one side of the main crib frame is adapted to be lowered out of the way to make the lifting operation more convenient. Even with this convenience, the lifting operation requires considerable physical effort.

In another type of baby crib, the drop side of the main crib is operatively connected to the vertically movable auxiliary frame by cable and pulley means in such manner that manually forcing the drop side of the crib downward results in lifting the auxiliary frame to its upper level. An objection to this arrangement is that the system of cables and pulleys is complicated and is prone to develop squeaks in its operation.

A serious disadvantage of both of these prior art arrangements is that the crib frame is necessarily weakened by the provision for dropping one of its sides. As babies grow and develop they push and pull at their cribs with increasing force and fora durable crib it is essential that the main crib frame be rigid with both of the longitudinal sides of the frame rigidly united with the frame ends.

The present invention eliminates the necessity of providing the main frame with a drop side either for access to the crib or for facilitating the lifting operation. Thus the invention makes it possible to construct the crib with a durable main frame having its ends and sides permanently and rigidly interconnected to provide a long service life. The invention further facilitates the raising of the auxiliary frame from its normal lower level to its upper level and reduces to a minimum the physical effort involved, even when the auxiliary frame carries the weight of a baby.

In the preferred practice of the invention, two linkage systems at the two ends, respectively, of the main frame support the corresponding ends of the auxiliary frame for vertical movement of the auxiliary frame. As will be explained, cach of these linkage systems may comprise a pair of scissor links and each of the scissor links may be provided with suitable spring means to counterbalance at least a portion of the load to reduce the force necessary for raising and lowering the auxiliary frame. l l

Patented Jan. 24:, 196i The preferred practices of the invention are further characterized by the provision of means interlocking or operatively interconnecting the two pairs of scissor links at the opposite ends of the crib for synchronous operation. Thus the auxiliary frame remains horizontal at all times, since any force that tends to raise or lower one end of the frame is transmitted to the scissor linkage at the opposite end of the frame to create a corresponding tendency at the opposite end.

In the preferred practice of the invention, the means that interlocks the two scissor links at the opposite ends of the auxiliary frame for synchronous operation comprises a treadle that may be forced down by foot pressure to lift the auxiliary frame. The treadle extends for substantially the full length of the crib for maximum convenience and to make it possible to create lifting force at any point along the front side of the crib. Such a treadle arrangement in combination with spring means that at least partially counterbalances the load makes it unnecessary to use undue physical eort to raise the auxiliary frame, even with the weight of a baby thereon.

The preferred practice of the invention further includes handle means directly connected to the auxiliary frame. Such a handle means may be used as the sole means for manually raising and lowering the auxiliary frame if desired. Usually, however, the task of raising the auxiliary frame is made easier by applying foot pressure to the treadle, the handle on the auxiliary frame being employed for additional control of the auxiliary frame. The additional control provided by the handle makes it easy to avoid shifting the auxiliary frame so abruptly as to awaken or frighten a baby.

A further feature of the preferred practice of the invention is the provision of. means operable by the same handle means for latching or immobilizing the auxiliary frame at a selected level. For this purpose, the handle means may be mounted on an arm that extends upward from the auxiliary frame in a vertical slot provided by the main frame and clamping means operated by the handle may be mounted on the arm to grip the main frame in a releasable manner. By virtue of this arrangement, the handle means may be grasped to raise and lower the auxiliary frame and the handle means may be manipulated to releasably clamp the auxiliary frame at any selected level in its range of levels.

The various features and advantages of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description considered with the accompanying drawing.

ln the drawing, which is to be regarded as merely illustrative:

Figure l is a perspective View of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the handle mounted on the upwardly extending arm together with the associated clamp means that is operated by the handle;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken as indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 2. to show the manner in which the upright arm is positioned in a vertical slot in the main frame of the crib; and

Figure il is a vertical transverse section of the crib.

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing comprises an open box-like rigid main frame, generally designated 19, that includes four legs ll. The sides of this main frame 10 are formed by upper and lower rails 12 and 14, respectively, together with spaced vertical interconnecting bars 15. The ends of the main frame are solid panels 16`having upper cross members 13 and lower cross members Ztl. whole main frame structure is rigid in character and rigidity is further insured `by the inclusion of transverse angle iron members 22 at each end. Bach of these angle iron members 22 interconnects the two lower longitudinal rails 14 just inside the corresponding end panel 16.

Spanning the interior of the main frame and vertically movable therein is the usual auxiliary frame, generally designated 24. The auxiliary frame 24 is of a well known construction comprising a rectangular angle iron frame spanned by a webbing 26 of interconnected wire links, this webbing being maintained taut in a well known manner by a plurality of coil springs (not shown).

Each of the two ends of the auxiliary frame 24 is supported by a pair of what may be termed scissor links 30 and 32, the links of each pair intersecting and being interconnected at their intersection by what may be termed a scissor pivot 34. The lower end of each scissor link 30 is pivotally mounted on the main crib frame and for this purpose may be connected by a pivot 35 to the corresponding transverse angle iron member 22. The upper end of this link 30 has a moving or sliding connection with the auxiliary frame 24 and for this purpose may be provided with a headed pin 36 that extends through and is slidable along a corresponding slot 38 in the end of the auxiliary frame. The upper end of the second scissor link '32 of each pair is pivotally connected to the auxiliary frame 24 by a pivot 40 and the lower end has a moving or sliding connection with the main crib frame 10. For this purpose, the lower end of the scissor link 32 has a headed pin 42 that extends through and is slidable along a corresponding slot 44 in the corresponding lower angle iron member 22,

The interlocking means for operatively interconnecting the two pairs of scissor links at the two ends of the crib may comprise a short link 45 at each end of the crib, a corresponding lever 46 at each end of the crib and a longitudinal member 48 which interconnects the lower ends of the two levers 46. This longitudinal member 48 may be aptly termed a treadle. Tlhus the interlocking arrangement includes two linkage systems at the two ends, respectively, of the main frame, each linkage system comprising a pair of scissor links 30 and 32, a short link 45 and a corresponding lever 46, and these two linkage systems are synchronized by the treadle 48. Preferably the longitudinal member or treadle 43 and the two levers 46 at the opposite ends thereof are integral parts of a single piece of tubing, the tubing being bent to a U-shaped configuration as may be seen in Figure 1.

The upper end of each of the short links 45 is connected to the corresponding scissor pivot 34 of the corresponding pair of scissor links 30 and 32, and the lower end of the short link is connected by a pivot t)` to the upper end of the corresponding lever 46. Each lever 46 is pivotally mounted on the main frame and for this purpose may be mounted on a fulcrum member 52 on a bracket 54 that extends downward from the corresponding transverse angle iron member 22.

In the preferred arrangement of this embodiment of the invention, a counterbalancing coil spring 55 is added to at least one of the two linkage systems. One end of the coil spring 55 is connected to the pivot Sil of the corresponding linkage system and the other end is connected to the corresponding transverse angle iron member 22.

Figures 1 and 2 show how a suitable handle means, which may be in the form of a knob 60, may be provided for manually raising and lowering the auxiliary lframe 24 or at least to control the vertical movements of the auxiliary frame. Preferably, the handle 60 is mounted on the upper end of an arm 62 that extends upward from the auxiliary frame 24. In the construction shown, the arm 62 is a rod that is suitably attached at its lower end to the front side member of the auxiliary frame 274. T he arm, extends upward through a vertical slot yi4 that .iS .farmed by ,a dosdyspacd Pair of vertical bars 15a of the main frame of the crib. The upper end of the arm 62 is bent or olf-set out of the slot as indicated at 65 in Figure 2 and is formed with a horizontally extending end portion 66 that extends back through the slot and carries the handle or knob 60'.

A means in the form of a clamp for releasably latching the auxiliary frame 24 at selected levels may cornprise a pair of metal washers 68 and 70 on the horizontal end portion 66 of the arm 62 together with a corresponding pair of plastic washers 72 and 74 that extend across the slot 64 to grip the two vertical bars 15a from opposite sides. The rearward metal washer 68 backs against the bend in the arm 62 and the forward washer 70 abuts the handle or knob 60; The knob 60 is internally screw threaded to engage a screw thread 75 on the end portion 66 of the upright arm 62. It is apparent that the knob 60 may be rotated for tightening screw action to cause the two vertical bars 15a to be eifectively clamped between the plastic washers 72 and 74.

The manner in which the described baby crib serves its purpose will be readily understood from the foregoing description. Normally the auxiliary frame 24 is at its lowermost level and at such time the knob 60 may be unscrewed to its loose position. To raise the auxiliary frame 24 to an upper level, the treadle 48 is moved downward by foot pressure, the knob 60 being loose. The downward pressure on the treadle 48 causes the two short links 45 to thrust upward on the two scissor pivots 34 4thereby to cause the two pairs of scissor links to lift the auxiliary frame. At the same time, the knob 60 is grasped for further control to regulate the upward movement of the auxiliary frame and when the auxiliary frame reaches the desired level, the knob 60 is rotated for screw action to clamp the auxiliary frame at its elevated position.

To lower the auxiliary frame 24 from an upper level, the knob 60 is rotated to loosen the washer assembly on the arm 62 and only light downward hand pressure on the knob 60 is required to cause the auxiliary frame to descend. It is unnecessary for the operator to engage the treadle 48 from below to lift the treadle for causing the downward movement of the auxiliary frame, but the treadle may be additionally operated in this manner as desired. The downward movement of the auxiliary frame, like the -upward movement, is easily regulated manually by the handle 60 to prevent any abrupt motion that might disturb a baby.

Since the main frame is of rigid construction and is not weakened by the inclusion of a separate drop side, it readily withstands normal forces applied thereto by an active baby. This fact together with the rugged simplicity of the mechanism that raises and lowers the auxiliary frame gives the baby crib a long service life.

Our description in specific detail of the selected ernbodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from our disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A baby crib which includes: a main frame having upright sides and ends, said main frame having a vertical slot in one of its sides intermediate said ends; an auxiliary frame adapted to support bedding spanning the interior of said main frame and extending at a right angle to said sides and said ends of said main frame; a linkage means located at each of said ends of said main frame, said linkage means being connected to the ends of said auxiliary frame adjacent to the ends of said main frame and supported upon said ends of said main frame so that said auxiliary :frame is capable of being moved from a low level position to any of a series of higher level positions, in all of said positions said auxiliary frame being within said main frame, all of said positions of said auxiliary frame being parallel to one another; treadle means having ends interconnected by a center portion, said ends of said treadle means being located adjacent to said ends of said main frame, the adjacent ends of said treadle means and said main frame being pivotally connected, said treadle means being located beneath said auxiliary frame, said center portion of said treadle means extending beneath said one of said sides containing said slot, each of said ends of said treadle means being operatively connected to one of said linkage means so that said treadle means co-nnects said linkage means for synchronous operation of said linkage means so as to cause said auxiliary frame to be moved upward when said center portion of said treadle means is rotated downwardly away from said one of said sides of said main frame containing said slot; arm means carried by said auxiliary frame so as to extend therefrom into and through said slot; sliding means held by said arm means, said sliding means engaging the portions of said main frame along said slot on the side of said slot remote from the extremity of said arm means; and handle means threaded on the extremity of said arm means, said handle means being capable of engaging portions of said main frame along said slot on the side of said slot adjacent the extremity of said arm means so as to secure said auxiliary frame in any of said positions.

2. A baby crib which includes: a main frame having upright sides and ends, said frame having a vertical slot in one of its sides intermediate said ends and horizontal slots in said ends, said horizontal slots being open to the interior of said frame; an auxiliary frame adapted to support bedding spanning the interio-r of said main frame and extending at a right angle to said sides and said ends of said main frame, said auxiliary frame being located above said horizontal slots in said ends of said main frame, said auxiliary frame having horizontal slots in the portions thereof adjacent to said ends of said main frame; a pair of scissors links located adjacent to each o-f the ends of said main frame, said scissors links of each of said pairs being pivotally connected to one another intermediate their ends, one of said scissors links of each of said pairs being pivotally connected to said main frame and the other of said scissors links of each of said pairs being pivo-tally connected to said auxiliary frame; a headed means attached to the free extremity of each of said scissors links, said headed means projecting into said horizontal slots on said main frame and said auxiliary frame so as to cause said auxiliary frame to be supported by said scisso-rs links on said main frame and vertically movable relative thereto to a plurality of positions; treadle means having the form of a generally U-shaped member having ends and a center portion, said ends of said treadle means being located adjacent to said ends of said main frame, the adjacent ends of said treadle means and said main frame being pivotally connected so that the extremities of said ends of said treadle means are free to move when the center portion of said treadle means is moved, the said center portion of said treadle means extending beneath said one of said sides of said main frame containing said vertical Slo-t; link means pivotally connecting the extremity of each of said ends of said treadle means with a scissors pivot of one of said pairs of scissors links; counterbalanced means connecting said main frame and said treadle means; arm means carried by said auxiliary frame so as to extend therefrom into and through said slot; sliding means held by said arm means, said sliding means engaging the portions of said main frame along said slot on the side of said slot remote from the extremity of said arm means; and handle means threaded on the extremity of said arm means, said handle means being capable of engaging portions of said main frame along said slot on the side of said slot adjacent the extremity of said arm means so as to secure said auxiliary frame in any of said plurality of positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,865 Holden Apr. 27, 1909 1,322,616 Rece Nov. 25, 1919 1,354,088 Burchell Sept. 28, 1920 1,642,184 Urso Sept. 13, 1927 2,327,735 Neunberz Aug. 24, 1943 2,329,475 Lehman et al Sept. 14, 1943 2,364,577 Webb Dec. 5, 1944 2,471,691 Hurst May 31, 1949 2,607,048 Unterhalter Aug. 19, 1952 2,630,582 Bukolt Mar. 10, 1953 2,650,371 Showalter Sept. l, 1953 2,840,831 Kedrowski July 1, 1958 

